iWorld
One Digital launches ‘Hip Hop Highway’ on Saavn
MUMBAI: In an effort to amplify its efforts in catapulting India’s burgeoning hip hop story, Saavn and One Digital have launched their new audio show, Hip Hop Highway. The show will have 12 episodes, releasing a 25 to 30 minute episode each Wednesday starting from today.
Listeners will hear from Indian artists, promoters, labels, producers, and upcoming talent as they discuss all aspects of the hip hop genre. Mixing in-studio sessions and on-site interviews, listeners can expect an authentic, off-the-cuff conversation on the role desi hip hop has come to play in India’s popular culture.
“With Hip Hop Highway we want to trace the origins of the genre in the country, with artists relating their journeys to the top. What was once deemed a subculture has today successfully become mainstream Indian music and Saavn is delighted to be the first audio streaming service to tell this story,” said Saavn co-founder and executive chairman Paramdeep Singh. “Hip Hop Highway will be incredibly artist centric and give major up-and-coming talent the opportunity to share their craft and stories with Saavn’s growing listenership base. Considering One Digital Entertainment’s extensive work on the hip hop scene, we are happy to partner them on this property”.
Hosted by Raaj Jones, the first episode will feature Indian rapper Raftaar and British-Indian DJ & Radio presenter Bobby Friction.
With Hip Hop Highway, listeners will be privy to a range of conversations, from insights into the evolution of desi hip hop to the international scene, and exclusive unreleased tracks to live performances from their favourite hip hop artists. Week on week, the off-centre yet revolutionary audio show will have various artists including Badshah, Divine and Naezy, among others.
One Digital Entertainment co-founder and COO Gurpreet Singh Bhasin added, “This audio show is novel in more ways than one. Not only is it the first show dedicated to a specific music genre, it is also a step forward in strengthening the original audio content domain in the country. We are delighted to collaborate with Saavn on this as they make for one of the perfect partners, with them being the people behind the best audio entertainment in the industry”.
Unlike other global markets, India’s uniquely film-centric music scene leaves independent artists with little support and limited opportunities to access larger audiences. As part of their larger objective, Saavn teams up with One Digital Entertainment to access the alternative mediums in which desi hip hop artists often make their debut. Choosing to showcase the lives and artistry of India’s hip hop legends is an unconventional method that has worked extremely well for Saavn in the recent past, with programs like AiR (Artists in Residence) and RMX giving non-film musicians both the tools and the global stage required to grow their fan base independent of the Bollywood music scene.
Saavn launched Saavn Originals in April 2016 in a bid to expand their repertoire of content to include a cutting-edge collection of original, long-form audio programs for its worldwide user base.
iWorld
Hari Om OTT bets on AI-first filmmaking after Bharat Next Gen takeover
Platform plans six devotional series yearly, with Dronacharya set for June 2026 release.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… algorithm. In a move that blends mythology with machine learning, devotional streaming platform Hari Om OTT is placing artificial intelligence at the heart of its filmmaking playbook. Founded by media entrepreneur Vibhu Agarwal and recently acquired by Bharat Next Gen Digital Pvt Ltd, the platform has announced a full scale AI first content strategy that positions artificial intelligence as the backbone of its film production model. The company plans to launch six original devotional series annually, beginning in the upcoming financial year.
Rather than treating AI as a post production shortcut, Hari Om OTT says it has spent the past 14 months building a full 360 degree in house AI ecosystem designed to power the entire creative pipeline. The platform has assembled a specialised internal team that includes AI Creative Directors, devotional content researchers and dedicated scriptwriters, bringing everything from concept development to execution under one roof.
The studio already has multiple films in production and is targeting at least three theatrical releases in the coming financial year. Leading the slate is Dronacharya, scheduled for release in June 2026, followed by Khatushyam Ji, Salasar Balaji and Rani Dadi Sati. Additional projects in development include stories centred on Agrasen Maharaj Ji and Chatthi Maiya.
Beyond feature films and series, Hari Om OTT is also expanding into a documentary vertical that explores the cultural heritage and temples of different Indian states. Designed as a state wise tourism promotional series, the project will use AI driven visual tools to offer immersive glimpses into India’s spiritual and architectural legacy, aiming to connect devotional storytelling with heritage tourism for global audiences.
Bharat Next Gen director Kanhiya Mittal described the upcoming slate as the start of what he calls a new cinematic movement powered by artificial intelligence.
“With Dronacharya, we are initiating a new cinematic movement powered by AI. This technology allows us to present India’s sacred history and cultural legacy with greater scale and authenticity. Our vision aligns with the prime minister’s emphasis on AI first innovation for India’s growth. We believe storytelling rooted in tradition, enhanced by technology, can position India as a global leader in human centric AI creativity,” he said.
Backed by Bharat Next Gen, Hari Om OTT is now positioning itself as a technology forward devotional content studio operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and culturally rooted storytelling, where epics from the past may soon be shaped as much by code as by creativity.
